ADAMITI. — This name is generally used to designate the adherents of certain doctrines that, beginning in the second century, gradually emerged in various periods. In our own day, a parallel might be found in the theories of the “nudists.”
St. Epiphanius (fourth century) gives the name Adamites or Adamiani to a sect which he derives from the Gnostics or Basilidians, whereas Clement of Alexandria derives it from the Carpocratians, Anastasius Sinaita from the Manichaeans, and Theodoret from Prodicus, whence also the name Prodicians. In the fourth century, Sulpicius Severus attributes some of their doctrines to the Priscillianists. In the twelfth century, in the Netherlands, the A. and their leader Tanchelm are again mentioned; the latter was exposed by St. Norbert. In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries they reappear in Flanders and the neighboring countries together with the Beghines or Beghards, or brothers and sisters of the Free Spirit, and with the Turlupins. Picard seems to have come from this sect; according to Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini, in the fifteenth century he introduced similar errors into Bohemia, restoring the name of A. After disappearing following the Hussite war, they reappeared under Emperor Joseph II (1780–90), but only briefly, and made an appearance around 1848 in the Austrian Empire.
Authors do not agree concerning the conduct of the A. Some assert that they went entirely naked, or at most wore a small loincloth; others, that they removed their clothing only upon entering their private gatherings; still others, that they entered clothed and undressed during the meeting, but extinguished the lights. Nor are the motives for these practices known with certainty. Some say that they intended to imitate the state of Adam and Eve before the Fall (St. Epiphanius); others assert that by this act they claimed to demonstrate that Jesus Christ had restored us to our original innocence; still others maintain that through nakedness they wished to accustom reason to overcome passion, and thus demonstrate the dominion of grace over nature.